0203 326 9160

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0203 761 7027

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Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs

General FAQs

Are all of your clinicians fully qualified?

We only work with people that we trust and have the relevant level of qualification and experience. All of our clinicians are fully qualified and trained professionals. In addition, our therapists are licensed, accredited and associated with professional organisations including:

  • GMC - General Medical Council
  • BMC - British Medical Counsel
  • BACP – British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy
  • BABCP – British Association of Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapy
  • BPS – British Psychological Society
  • UKCP – UK Council for Psychotherapy
  • UKRC – UK Register of Counsellors
  • RCPsych – Royal College of Psychiatrists
  • HCPC – Health Professions Council
  • BAP – British Association for Psychopharmacology
  • BPC – British Psychoanalytic Council

Are you CQC registered?

We have been registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) since July 2020. The CQC is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England. It is responsible for making sure that all health and social care services provide people safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led care.

Can I refer someone else for treatment?

Most of our residential treatment enquiries for addictions and alcoholism start with a call from a concerned partner, family member, friend or employer. We've dealt with every kind of difficult situation and we're always happy to help.

If the individual who requires treatment person is unwilling to address their problem, we may not be able to help them immediately. In this instance, we may attempt to help by advising you on looking after yourself and anyone else affected.

Do I need a referral from a GP?

This depends on the service you require, and how you are seeking support.

If you are using private medical insurance then you may need a referral letter from your GP to be sure that your bills are covered. Our team are very experienced in processing these kinds of claims, so just call and we'll let you know what you need to do.

If you have a pre-existing condition, we are always keen to liaise with your previous treatment providers as well as details of any ongoing prescriptions or treatments.

How do I know if the treatment will be beneficial?

There are no guarantees with psychotherapy or psychiatry. We work in this field because we have seen people achieve tremendous gains form this kind of work. That doesn't mean that we can guarantee that every person will be helped, but if what you need is something that we can help with then we will use the best available treatments to do our utmost to help.

What are your opening hours?

Our phones are answered between the hours of 9 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday and 9:30 am to 3:30 pm on Saturdays. You can leave a message outside of these hours and we will call you back when we reopen.

Appointments to see one of our clinicians are offered in line with their availability, and many are able to offer evening and weekend appointments. 

What happens when I contact you?

When you call us, you will speak with a fully trained assistant psychologist who will listen to your issues and discuss your situation. Based on this discussion, we may recommend a clinician for treatments or assessments.

What is the difference between a psychiatrist, psychologist and psychotherapist?

The difference between the disciplines is the background and training, and the different approaches that they use. Psychotherapists use a number of talking therapies, as do psychologists although psychologists have a degree in psychology and often use psychometric assessments to support their approach. Psychiatrists are fully trained medical doctors who have specialised in mental health and are able to prescribe medication. 

Where are you located?

Our nationwide team of psychiatrists, psychologists and psychotherapists can be seen at one of our 21 clinics across the UK, or online. The locations are here.

All post should be sent to Head Office, PO Box 166, Shaftesbury, SP7 7B

Why do people seek treatment?

We help people with a wide range of issues. It can range from a vague feeling of unhappiness that you are struggling to pin down, through to a serious psychiatric disorder.

Alternatively, there could be a more difficult issue that you are facing like an eating disorder or alcohol or substance abuse or a more complex mental health problem. Whatever the issue is you are facing treatment can work over a short or a long term period to help bring about effective change in a person's life and enhance their wellbeing.

Therapy

Most people looking for help finding a therapist or psychologist for therapy are grappling with an aspect of their lives that they know is not working as well as it should be. Very often we know that something is wrong and we just need some space and support to help figure out the best way to deal with it. It could be an addiction or an eating disorder, it could be depression of some kind, it could be a difficult relationship with a child or partner. Whatever it is, we're here to help, with no shame and no blame.

Psychology

Psychologists perform a wide variety of roles, but the ones that we employ have two main functions; either to provide therapy, or to help with psychometric testing. These tests can be to help diagnose a condition which is difficult to pin down, like some kinds of ADHD, dyslexia or dyspraxia, for example. 

Psychiatry

Our psychiatrists can also provide therapy, and sometimes do, but their main role is usually to help diagnose and treat conditions that need something more than a talking cure. These are often the same conditions as are seen by therapists and psychologists, but have become serious enough to require either medication or inpatient treatment. Psychiatrists are the only ones of our professionals who are allowed to prescribe medication.

Appointment & Fees

Are the sessions confidential?

All of the conversations and appointments that you have with Clinical Partners are confidential. The exception to this is if you pose a danger to yourself or others. At this point the relevant parties will be informed.

Can I pay by credit card?

Yes, we accept all major credit cards but do not accept cash or cheques.

Can I pay using private medical insurance?

Some of our clinicians are recognised providers to some of the major medical insurers, but not all are covered by all of them. If you call our team and let us know what you need, we'll be happy to let you know what can be covered.

Do you prescribe medication and what are the costs?

If our team need to prescribe medication for you then you will be informed of the cost in advance. Some medications are very expensive, and so we may recommend that you contact the NHS as soon as you can to access these more cost effectively.

How do I make an appointment with a therapist?

When you call, an assisstant pyschologist will arrange your initial appointment. Once youd have attended your appointment, your clinician will arrange the next session with you. 

How long is each session?

The length of session depends on the situation. A regular Psychotherapy session will last 50 minutes. For an initial assessment with a Psychiatrist of Psychologist this could last 90 minutes.

How long will I have to see someone?

At Clinical Partners we offer a wide number of services offering clinical assessments through to long-term treatment. The number of sessions depends on your personal situation and presenting issues. At the initial session your therapist will discuss your treatment plan. It is usual to start off with six sessions and then be reviewed at this point. For short-term treatments like CBT the number of sessions can range between 6 and 20 but most often between 6 and 10 sessions. For other forms of treatment approaches the number of sessions may be more.

What are the costs for treatment?

Mental health services always seem to be pretty expensive, because they almost always involve focussed one to one time with someone with a high degree of training. We do our best to keep our fees as low as we can, so that you can afford the help you want.

What if I don't like my therapist?

We truly understand the importance of finding the right therapist for you as it will have a positive impact on your treatment – for this reason we will always try to recommend a specialist who we feel compliments your situation and needs. However, this is such a subjective area and it is possible that you may not feel comfortable with a certain therapist. To ensure that we find the right therapist for you we will contact you following your initial appointment to check how the session went and if you feel comfortable to move forward with this therapist. If at this point you don't we will recommend another therapist for you. Indeed, at any point during your treatment you if would prefer to see another therapist please do call us and we can discuss the situation with you and find another professional.

What is your cancellation policy?

Please contact us as soon as possible to let us know if you would like to cancel an appointment. Cancellations with less than 48 but more than 24 hours’ notice are usually charged at half price.

Regrettably, cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice before the appointment or non-attended appointments without any prior notice are charged at the full price.

Please see our full list of fees for more information.

Therapy Appointments

Can I choose the therapy approach I think is best for me?

Yes absolutely – we want you to feel well informed about what you are doing, and ideally to have made your own decisions about what help you get – that's our job.

You can choose an approach that you feel best suits you personally. We are always happy to offer our advice or answer any queries you may have. We have also provided a brief description of the different therapeutic modalities to help you. Read more about our different types of therapy

Can I pick the therapist I would prefer to work with?

Yes you can request to see a particular therapist. We are happy to answer any queries you may have about a therapist and we are able to advise and recommend a therapist we believe will be most suited to your needs.

We want you to be in the driving seat when it comes to making decisions about what help we provide for you. Our job is to help you in the way that you want to be helped. Some people just want to be told who to see and when, some people want to explore all the options and make their own decision. There is no right and wrong, and we are here to provide whatever you need.

Advocacy

What if I find it difficult to understand my treatment or care options?

If you find it difficult to understand your treatment or care needed or if you find it hard speak up, there are independent people who can act as a spokesperson for you.

They make sure you're heard and your wellbeing is protected: they are called advocates.

Advocacy in all its forms seeks to ensure that people, particularly those who are most vulnerable in society, are able to:

  • Have their voice heard on issues that are important to them
  • Defend and safeguard their rights
  • Have their views and wishes genuinely considered when decisions are being made about their lives

For example, they can help you:

  • understand the care and treatment process
  • talk about how you feel about your care
  • make decisions
  • challenge decisions about your care and treatment if you do not agree with them
  • stand up for your rights

They can write letters for you and attend meetings with you.

Advocates will support you during:

  • assessments
  • care and treatment planning

Advocates are independent of Clinical Partners.

 

How to get an advocate

Contact social services at your local council and ask about advocacy services. Find your local social services.

POhWER is a charity that helps people to be involved in decisions being made about their care. POhWER works in more than 100 local authority areas, across England, delivering the full range of statutory and non-statutory advocacy services. Call POhWER's support centre on 0300 456 2370 for advice.

SeAp Advocacy gives advocacy support. Their advocacy services can help you resolve issues or concerns and help you have a say in the way you, or someone you love, is cared for. Call 0330 440 9000 for advice or text SEAP to 80800 and someone will get back to you.

VoiceAbility gives advocacy support. Call 01223 555800 for advice or find the phone number for your local VoiceAbility service.

Contact the charity Age UK to see if they have advocates in your area. Contact Age UK online or call 0800 055 6112.

These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by Clinical Partners of any services or opinions of the corporation or organisation listed. Clinical Partners bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.

Complaints

What if I have a complaint about treatment?

If you are unhappy with the service you receive, please call us on 0203 761 7027 and we will address the issue immediately.

How are complaints dealt with?

When we receive your complaint, we will speak to the staff and clinician involved and find out what has gone wrong. Then we will work with you to see how it can be resolved. The vast majority of complaints are resolved in this way. 

Who can make a complaint?

A complaint can be made by anyone who is negatively affected by our service. If you are complaining on someone else’s behalf, we will first need to check with them that they are happy for us to respond to you. Please be assured that raising your concerns will not harm or prejudice the care you, or the person you care for, is given.

Except in exceptional circumstances, complaints should be received by us no more than six months after the date of the activity which is the subject of the complaint.

How long do you take to respond to a complaint?

We will acknowledge receipt of your complaint within three working days of receiving it. Except in exceptional circumstances, you will receive a full written response to your complaint within 20 working days or we will keep you updated on our progress.

Will my complaint be kept confidential?

Your complaint will only be shared with relevant staff members to ensure we can properly investigate and respond. We will then use any issues and learning that arise from this as part of our governance arrangements.

Who can I contact about a complaint?

If you need to speak to us about anything related to a complaint, please use the following details:

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 0203 326 9160

Post: Clinical Partners Limited Unit 6, Chaldicott Barns, Tokes Lane, Semley Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 9AW

What if I’m unsatisfied with the response?

We will do all we reasonably can to resolve your complaint to your satisfaction. If you are not happy with our response for any reason, then we will have it reviewed by our Medical Director. They will look at how we have responded and if they feel that we have not been fair and transparent then they may amend the response.

We subscribe to the Independent Healthcare Sector Complaints Adjudication Service (ISCAS). If you are still unhappy with our response after it has been reviewed internally then we will refer your complaint to them for independent resolution.

Call us today: 0203 326 9160 0203 761 7026 0203 761 7027 0203 326 9160 0203 761 7026 0203 761 7027

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